Street or station indicator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. HEITMAN.

STREET 0R STATION INDICATOR.

No. 410,550. Patented Sept. 3, 1889..

wumwtoz se 1 61mm Wax N. PEYERS. Phuloljlhngnpher, Walhington. D C,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. HEITMAN.

STREET OR STATION INDIUATOR.

No. 410,550. Patented Sept. 3, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY HEITMAN, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES F. OROIVLEY, OF NEIV BRIGHTON, NEIV YORK.

STREET OR STATION INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,550, dated September 3, 1889.

Application filed February 28, 1888- Renewed July 31, 1889. Serial No. 319,256. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY IIEITMAN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street orStation Indicators for Street or Railway Cars, Omnibuses, and other Similar Purposes; and I declare the following to be a full and clear description of the same, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a tape or scroll on which are printed or otherwise designated the names or numbers of the stations, streets, or avenues in the route to be traveled. This indicating tape or scroll is fixed at each end to a cylinder or drum and wound around the same. By a suitable mechanism for unwinding this indicating tape or scroll from one drum or cylinder and winding on the other, as is hereinafter described, this said tape or scroll is moved past a slit or aperture in the framework of the indicator, thereby presenting to view the names or numbers of the stations, streets, or avenues.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the indicator ready for use, showing the case or framework and the opening therein for the presentation to view of the street or station number or name. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the indicator with the face of the case or framework removed. Fig. 3 is a side view with the side case removed, showing the mechanism for operating and the manner of its action. Fig. 4 is a plan of the indicator, showing the operating mechanism and the manner of attaching the indicating scroll or tape to the cylinder or drum. Fig. 5 is a side view showing in detail the mechanism for operating the indicating tape or scroll in the reverse direction.

The indicating tape or scroll A is attached to and wound around the cylinder or drum B. Thence it is passed, by means of the mechanism hereinafter described, over the small guide-roller 1), past the slit or aperture D in the framework or case E, thence over the small guide-roller c and onto the large cylinder or drum 0, around which it is wound and to which it is attached, or vice versa.

To the large cylinder or drum O is attached the ratchet-wheel F, as shown in Fig. 3. This ;H by means of the pin or pivot k.

spring I causes the pawl G to be constantly thrown against the ratchet-wheel F, and to be successively brought into engagement with the ratchets of said ratchet-wheel F. The follower-block K is attached to the radial arm The pull-strap M is attached to the followerblock K by means of the link L, which passes through the eye-hole Z of said follower-block The pawl N is attached at 'n to the arm 0, said arm 0 being fixedly attached to the case or frame-work E of the indicator. The pawl N is held in constant engagement with the ratchet-wheel F by means of the spring P,

attached to said pawl N, and which rests at its other end against the journal Q, or some lug adjusted for that purpose. The object of the pawl N is to prevent any reverse motion to the ratchet-wheelF orthe cylinder or drum ,0, to which said ratchet wheel is attached.

After the follower-block K has been pulled forward by means of the pull-strap M the mechanism is restored to its original position by means of the spring R, which is fixedlyattached to the case or frame-work E at r, and secured to the radial arm H at r.

In order to prevent the mechanism from being thrown too far back by means of the spring R, the abutment S is provided with a notch or stop, with which the radial arm II comes in contact. The mechanism is constantly held in position by means of the spring R holding the radial arm II in contact with the abutment S.

After the indicating scroll or tape has been wound as far in one direction as it can go, or as far as it is desired to have it go, if then it be desired to return to the starting-point on the indicating scroll or tape and repeat: the operation in the same order as has just been completed, this is accomplished by means of the follower T, journaled at z, and operated by means of the crank or handle U. The point T of the follower T rests against the lug t of the pawl N, and the end T of the fol- 1 lower T is pivoted at t to the pawl G. By

means of the crank or handle II on the outside of the case or frame-work the follower T is thrown down until it comes into contact with the stop or abutment V. The follower T is held in this position by means of the spring-pawl W. When the follower T is thrown down by means of the crank or handle U and held in that position by means of the spring-pawl W, the pawls G and N are thrown out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel F, and the cylinder or drum is free to be moved in either direction at will, and the indicating tape or scroll can be unwound from the cylinder or drum on which it has been accumulated and be returned to the companion cylinder or drum in order to repeat the operation and present to view opposite the slit or aperture in the frame-work the numbers or names of the avenues, streets, or stations in the same order and succession as before. This unwinding of the tape or scroll from the one cylinder or drum 0 and return tothe companion cylinder or drum B is accomplished by means of the crank or handle Z on the outside of the case or frame-work and affixed to the journal of said companion cylinder or drum B. When, however, as is usually the case, it is desired, after all the names or numbers have been presented to view through the slit or aperture, to present them again, but in a reverse order to that just completed, this is accomplished by means of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5, similar in construction and 7.

action to that shown in Fig. 3, but attached to the companion cylinder or drum and operatin g so as to give to the cylinder to which it is attached a motion exactly the reverse of the motion imparted by means of the mechanism already described.

The indicating tape or scroll is secured at its ends to each cylinder or drum by means of the removable strip X, of wood or other suitable material, as is shownv in Fig. 4, which is attached to each cylinder ordrum by means of screws. This permits of the ready removal or exchange of the indicating scroll or tape without it being necessary to remove the. cylinder or drum to which it is attached.

The indicating tape or scroll is held evenly inposition on the cylinder by means of the flanges Y Y. A tension-spring P, as shown in Fig. 2, is for the. purpose of holding the roller in position under a certain tension.

The method of operating my improved street or station indicator is as follows: The indicating tape or scroll A is secured to and wound about the cylinders or drums B and 0. As each street or station is reached the conductor or guard pulls the pull-strap M, thereby drawing forward the follower-block K and the radial arm I-I attached thereto. This action draws forward the pawl G, which is held in engagement with the ratchet-wheel F by means of the spring I. The forward motion of the pawl G turns the ratchet-wheel F, and with it the cylinder or drum 0, until the pawl pawl W with the handle U.

until the next street, avenue, or station is reached, when the guard or conductor again pulls the pull-strap M, and the operation is repeated, presenting the next name or number in order. When the terminus or destination is reached, if it is desired to present the names or numbers on the indicating tape or scroll in reverse order, the follower T is thrown down by means of the crank or handle U, attached to the shaft 25, and held in that positionby means of the engagement of the springthe free revolution of the cylinder or drum 0,

and the cylinder or drum Bis actuated by the mechanism shown in Fig. 5. As each street or station is reached the guard or c011- ductor pulls the pull-strap M, drawing forward the follower-block K, the radial arm H, and the pawl G, causing the ratchet-wheel F and the cylinder or drum B to revolve in a direction opposite to that given by the previously-described mechanism to the cylinder 0, and until it is secured from any reverse revolution by means of the pawl N becoming engaged with and securing the next ratchet on the ratchet-wheel F. This motion draws the indicating tape or scroll down sufiiciently to present opposite the slit or aperture in the case or frame-work E the next name or number in order. If,when the destination or terminus is reached, it is desired to present the names or numbers on the indicating tape orscroll in the same order as that which has just been completed,

This permits of the follower T is thrown down by means of the crank or handle U on the outside of the frame-work and the pawls G and N thrown out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel F, leaving the cylinder or drum 0 free to be revolved in either direction at will. While the pawls G and N are thus disengaged from the ratchet-wheel F, and so held by means of the spring-pawl W becoming engaged with the crank or handle U on the journal t, the indicating tape or scroll is all wound back onto the companion cylinder or drum .B by means of the crank or handle Z, attached to the journal of said cylinder or drum B. Then by disengaging the spring-pawl W from the crank or handle U on the journal If the pawls G and N are thrown back into position and the mechanism is ready for operation and rotation in the same manner and order as before.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a car or public-conveyance stationindicator, a tape with the stations marked thereon attached at its ends, respectively, to two storage-rollers B O and intermediately running over two guide-rollers b c, said indicator-tape moved longitudinally in intermittent movements by the pull-cord M, acting on and attached to a swinging follower-block K, to which is attached the pawl G, acting on the ratchet-wheel F, and governed by the radial arm H and controlling-spring I, all combined and arranged as described and set forth.

2. In a station-indicator, an actuating mechanism for moving and controlling the tape on which the names of the stations are written, consisting of a radial arm fulcrumed to the axle of the tape-drum, and carrying at its outer end a sliding follower, to which is attached apawl for actuating a ratchet-wheel on said tape-drum, in combination with a pull-strap for driving said follower forward, and a tension-spring for habitually drawing it back against a stop-block adapted to receive it, substantially as described.

In a station-intlicator for railway-cars and similar purposes, an indicator-tape mounted on two carrying-rollers, which are moved forward in a series of intermittent movements by a ratchet-wheel mounted on the axle of one of the tape-rollers, and actuated by a pawl attached or pivoted to a swinging follower carried on a radial arm fulcrumed on the same axle, the said pawl and swinging or radial arm coupled together with an intermediate follower, substantially as described.

4. In a station-indicator for railway-cars and similar purposes, a ratchet-wheel for operating the indicator-tape in intermittent movements, and provided with an actuatingpawl and a holding pawl or dog, and also with a guiding-follower T, placed on a rockshaft and adapted to lift the actuating-pawl and the holding-dog simultaneously off from the ratchet, so it may be rotated in either direction, substantially as described.

Witness my hand this 17th day of February, 1888.

HENRY I-IEITMAN.

Witnesses:

W. L. BENNEM, F. O. FRos'r. 

